After a five-month gap, Team India is set to return to the field for red-ball cricket, with the first series against Bangladesh starting on September 19. The first Test of this series will take place in Chennai, where the playing XI for India is a major question. Who will be the 11 players to take the field against Bangladesh? While the official answer will only be revealed at the toss, it’s certain that several players will get their first chance to play a Test match against Bangladesh.
Considering the pitch and conditions in Chennai, India is likely to go with a combination of 3 spinners and 2 fast bowlers. This means there will be 6 players focused on batting, including one wicketkeeper. With Rishabh Pant in the team, it’s clear that he will be part of the playing XI as the wicketkeeper-batter. This leaves Dhruv Jurel, who made a mark in the home Test series against England, on the bench.
For the first Test against Bangladesh, India’s opening pair is expected to be captain Rohit Sharma alongside young left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal. Shubman Gill is likely to come in at first down, followed by Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant.
As for the bowling attack, Ashwin and Jadeja are likely to be the first choice for the Indian think tank in Chennai. For the third spinner, Axar Patel seems to have the edge over Kuldeep Yadav. The two fast bowlers India might go with are Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj.
There could be two players in the playing XI who will play a Test match against Bangladesh for the first time. One of these names is likely to be Jasprit Bumrah and the other one could be Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Here’s a look at the possible playing XI of India for the first Test against Bangladesh:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj.